Sociology Honors Program Overview (2025-2026 Academic Year)
The Sociology Department invites students majoring in Sociology to apply to our Honors Program. In this year-long program (fall and spring), our top students engage in research activities under the supervision of a Sociology faculty mentor, including enrollment in a year-long seminar and the completion of an independent honors thesis project.
This program is a great opportunity for high-achieving and dedicated students to expand their hands-on experience with research, engage with a cohort of motivated students under the mentorship of a faculty member, and create applicable materials for graduate school or career readiness. Students planning to pursue graduate training in Sociology are strongly encouraged to apply.
Program Highlights:
- Research Engagement: Work closely with a faculty mentor on an independent research project aligning with your interests in sociology
- Academic Development: Develop essential academic research, writing, and presentation skills that will serve you well in your academic and professional pursuits.
- Graduate and Career Insights: Gain valuable insights into graduate programs in sociology and related fields, helping you make informed decisions about your future educational path and/or career aspirations.
Program Requirements:
- Seminar Attendance: Attend the Honors Seminar course during the fall and spring semesters (SOC 5971 and 5972), earning a total of 6 units of course credit during the academic year.
- Independent Research: Design and conduct an independent research project in sociology, including submitting a proposal for approval by the Institutional Review Board, writing a literature review, and completing data collection and analyses.
- Mentorship Commitment: Regularly meet with and submit project updates to the faculty mentor.
- Research Presentation: Present your findings through a poster and verbal presentation at an on-campus student research conference (e.g., the CSUSB Meeting of the Minds Research Symposium)
- Final Research Paper: Complete a comprehensive thesis paper based on original research
- To receive departmental honors in Sociology at graduation, a student must fulfill all program requirements.
Eligibility:
The following are guidelines for ideal candidates for the Honors Program. If your application meets most but not all of the outlined criteria, contact the Program Director (Dr. Ethel Mickey, ethel.mickey@csusb.edu) to discuss your application. Our selection guidelines are kept flexible to accommodate differing applicant pools from year-to-year.
- at least a 3.5 GPA in the major, including courses for the major taken elsewhere;
- an overall GPA of 3.0 or better;
- completion of at least one of the two required research methods course (SOC 3010 or SOC 3070) with a “B” or better prior to enrollment in the Honors Program. *Note: if you are enrolled in one of these courses in Spring 2025, Dr. Mickey will contact your instructor for a current grade. Acceptance into the program will be contingent on the final course grade.
- completion of the Application Form for Honors Program in Sociology
Timeline:
Prospective honors students are strongly encouraged to begin planning for the honors program no later than the spring semester prior to their Senior year. Prospective students should attend an information session (dates and Zoom links listed below) to learn more about the program and to ask any questions. Questions about the program may also be directed to Dr. Ethel Mickey at ethel.mickey@csusb.edu. The deadline to apply for the 2025-2026 program is May 5th, 2025.
- Application opens: April 7th, 2025. We will send the application form to all Sociology students and start accepting applications.
- Information sessions: Week of April 28th, see below for information
- Application deadlines: May 5th, 2025
- Notifications of acceptance: May 12th, 2025
Spring 2025 Information Sessions:
- April 28th at 12pm, in person SB 514
- April 30th at 4pm, on Zoom
Fill out this short online application by the deadline to be considered for the program!